Expansion shoe tree



Sept. 27, 1932 v HOFF 1,879,242

EXPANS ION SHOE TREE Filed Dec. 26, 1951 INVENTOR Y Marin? HO/7 ATTORNEK out.

Patented Sept. 27, 1932 FUNITED STATES MARTIN Born, on NEW Yonx, N. Y.

EXPANSION snon m Application filed December 26,1931. Serial Ho. 583,843.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in-an expanslon shoe tree.

The invention has for an ob ect the con struction of an expansion shoe tree which'is.

characterized by a I vamp portion composed of a sole section and a pair of upper right and left sections and meansfor moving the upper sections away from the sole section and for laterally expanding the upper sections relative to each other. As a further object, it is proposed to construct the means for expanding the sections as stated in the previous paragraph in a manner so that they move in definite relation to each other, as regards'the separating of the sole sections from the other sections and the expanding action of the upper sections relative to each other. V Another one of the objects of this invention is to construct a plate connected with a handle for motion, which plate is located between the sole section andthe upper sections and is constructed so as to operate thesections composing the vamp portion as above pointed The invention has fora still further object the construction of an article of the class described which is of simple durable construction, dependable in use and efficient in operation and which can be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost. I I

For further'comprehension of the invention and of the advantages thereof. reference will be had to thefollowing description and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part oflthis disclosure :,--v

'Fig. 1 is a plan view ofan expansion shoe tree constructed accordingto this invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational viewofFigL Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of Fig.1. Fig. tis' a plan view of the plate which is located between the vamp portion, shown per se.

Fig. 5 is-a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken'on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

top of the sole section and sections composing the Fig. 6 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken on the line 66 of'Fig. 1. a

Fig. 7 isa sectional view taken on the line 77 of Fig. 4. The vamp portion of the expansion shoe tree consists of a sole section 10 and a pair of upper adjacent right and left sections-11 l0:

cated above the section 10. The front of the sole section is formed with a" projection 12 having an inclined top side 13., The sections which compose the vamp portion areshaped so as to be capable of fitting withina shoe for the purpose of holding the shoe in proper shape. A central plate 14 is located upon the beneath the upper sections 11. This plate has lugs 15 stamped therefrom and a handle 16 is pivotally connected with these lugs. The lugs are so located that they are disposed between the right and left sections 11. The handle 16 extendsto the rear and connects another handle 17 adapted to engage against the heel portion of a shoe so'as to urge the vamp portion of the shoetreewithin thevamp por- These handles 16 and 17 may tion of a shoe. I I be adjustably connected to fit in shoes of different-lengths. I I I The control plate 14 is formed at the front with a lip 18 mou'ntedso as to be adjustable. This lip hasits edges, 19 turned around the front of the plate 14 allowing sliding to various positions, as for-example, that indicated by the dot and dash lines in Fig. 4. Thelip "18 has an inclined front end 20' adapted to rideup on the inclined surface 13 of the proj ection 12 on the front of the sole portion. A

'set screw 21 threadedly engages through the lip 18 and against the jaw of the plate 14 so as to lockthe lip in various adjusted posi-,

tions.' Pairs of diverging slots 22 are also formed in the plate 1 l Pins 23 project rigidly fromthe right and left upper sections 11 and extend through the slots 22 in the central plate 14 and through transverse slots 24 in the sole section 10. Tubular members 25 are located upon each of the pins23between the upper vamp sections and the sole section so as to hold these parts spaced to permit easysliding of the central plate 14. Each of the pins 28 -have heads I I I which are quite high known as the and expansion springs 26 act between these heads and against washers 27 located in cavities 28 connecting with the transverse slots 24. The arrangement is such that normally the sole section 10 and the upper vamp sections 11 are drawn together resiliently so that they may be moved relative to each other when the control plate 14 is moved frontwards over the inclined projection 13. r

The operation of the shoe tree may'beunderstood by assuming it placed within a shoe.- The handle 16 should be moved forward so as to move the control plate 14 forward and cause the inclined slots 22 to act against the pins 23 and move the. vamp portions 11 lat erally away from each other. The transverse slots 24 limit the possible slidable motion of the vamp portions 11 transversely; We now have the condition where the sections 11 are moving laterally from each other and acting against the inside of the vamp portion of the shoe so as to hold it in a stretched position.

As the control plate 14 is-moved forward, the lip 18 rides on the'projection12 and causes the sol-e portion 10 and the upper section 11 to be pried apart so that the vamp portion of the shoe-is also stretched up and down as it is stretched laterally. The position of the lip portion 18 may be adjusted to various set positions so that the relation ofthe separation of the upper portions 11 to the sole portion 10 can be adjusted for the proper stretching of' the particular type of shoe. Thus the expansion shoe tree is adaptableto the vamp portions of shoes which are flat or the type bull dog toe shoe.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention,what

I claim is new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is 1. An expansion shoe tree, comprising a vamp portion composed of a sole section having a front projection, and a pair of adjacent -right and left upper sections located above said sole section, a control plate disposed between the sole section and said upper sections and having a front lip capable of riding on said front projection, and pins depending from said upper sections through inclined slots formed in the control plate and transverse slots formed in saidsole portion.

2. A11 expansion shoe tree, comprising a vamp portion composed of a solesection having a front projection, and a pair of adjacent right and-left upper sections located above a said sole section, a control plate disposed between the sole section and said upper sections and having a front lip capable of riding a shoe.

cent right and left upper sections located.

above said sole section, a control plate disposedbetween the sole section and said upper sections'and having a front lip capable of riding on saidfront projection, and pins depending from said upper sections through inclined slots formed in the control plate and transverse slots formed in said sole portion, said central plate being provided with stamped tongues adaptedto engage in between the upper sections and said handle being pivotally connected with said stamped out portions p 4. An expansion shoe tree, comprising a vamp portion composed of a sole section having a front projection, and a pair of adjacent right andleftupper sections located above said sole section, a control plate disposed between the sole section and said upper sections and having a front lip capable of riding on said front projection, and pins 'depending from said upper sections'through inclined slots formed in the control plate and transverse slots formed in said sole portion, the inclined slots Within the control plate being diverging as respects those beneath the right upper section and those beneath the left upper section so as to cause these sections to move laterally from each other as the control plate is moved.

5. An expansion shoe tree, comprising a vamp portion composed of a sole section having a front projection, and apair of adjacent right and left upper sections-located above said sole section, a control plate disposed between the sole section and said upper sections and having a front lip capable of riding on said front projection, and pins depending from said upper sections through inclined slots formed in the control plate and transverse slots formed in said sole portion, said handle being provided with a rear section adapted to engage within the heel portion of 6. An expansion shoe tree, comprising a vamp portion composed .of a sole section having a front projection, and a pair of adja cent right and left upper sections located above said sole section, a control plate disposed between the sole section and said upper sections and having a front lip capable of riding; on said front projection, pins depending from said upper sections through inclined slots formed in the control plate and transverse slots formed in said sole portion,

and resilient means upon said pins for urging the sole portion resiliently towards said upper right and left sections.

. expansion shoe tree, comprising a vamp portion composed of a sole section having a front projection, and a pair of adjacent right and left upper sections located above said sole section, a control plate disposed between the sole section, and said upper sections and having a front lip capable of riding on said front projection, pins depending from said upper sections through inclined slotsformed in the control plate and transverse slots formed in said sole portion, and resilient means upon said pins for urging the sole portion resiliently towards said upper right and left sections, comprising springs on said pins and acting between the heads on the pins and washers resting-against the edges of said transverse slots.

8. An expansion shoe tree, comprising a vamp portion composed of a sole section hav ing a front projection, and a pair of adjacent right and left upper sections located above said sole section, a control plate dis- 5 posed between the sole section, and said upper sections and having a front lip capable of riding on said front projection, pins depend ing from said uppersections through inclined slots formed in the control plate. and trans verse slots formed in said sole portion, and resilient means upon said pins for urging the sole portion resiliently towards said upper right and left sections, comprising springs on said pins and acting between the heads on the pins and washers resting against the edges of said transverse slots, spacing bushings being located upon said pins and serving to limit moving of the sole portion towards the upper sections.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature.

MARTIN HOFF; 

